Yoga for Mental Health Recovery

06 Oct Yoga for Mental Health Recovery

About the program

Yoga is traditionally offered to help people with mental illness reduce symptoms. We used our unique design approach to go further, and develop a program that supports the aim of mental health recovery: helping people re-participate in their community. Participants also learned skills to reduce symptoms like anxiety and get physical exercise along the way.

How it works

This 12-minute podcast describes how we used yoga as education for mental health recovery in a pilot project with Ruah, a social services provider in Perth, Western Australia.

Who is Yoga for Mental Health Recovery for?

Yoga for Mental Health Recovery is available to organisations supporting people taking a recovery approach to mental illness.

Why tailored yoga during mental health recovery

Arriving at your first yoga class usually involves a new space filled with people, and being asked to lie down with your eyes closed. For those with a past experience of trauma, who have limited access to transport, or who lack a safe place at home to roll out a mat, some things we take for granted as part of a yoga class can be a challenge.

Tailored yoga programs are an opportunity for those experiencing more serious mental health distress to feel safe, get the yoga they need, and continue long enough to access its benefits.

YOGA FOR MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY IN YOUR ORGANISATION

It's important that our clients have access to outside providers so they don't become dependent on the support organisation. Yoga for Mental Health Recovery builds confidence by providing a physical experience with someone from outside the agency and helps the transition from agency to community.